Electrolytic apparatus



Oct. 16, 1934. M, TETRAULT ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28, 1932Michael TiraaZZ" Patented Oct. 16, 1934 ETED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1Claim.

5 particularly those relating to the electrolytic deposition of metalssuch as zinc or copper, it is important that the anodes and cathodes bepositively spaced and insulated from each other. For this purpose astrip or as it is commonly called, a stick, is used. The usual stickcomprises a strip of wood which is longitudinally grooved, the width ofthe groove being slightly less than the thickness of the plate electrodeso that the stick may be forced onto the edge of the plate and held:frictionally thereon within the groove. The sticks, being held on theelectrodes merely by friction, often become detached from the electrodesand besides become warped and rotted, and split or cracked and thereforeuseless, due to the action of the electrolyte. As a result aconsiderable expense for labor and material is involved in maintainingthe wooden stick insulators.

To overcome these difiiculties, considerable experiments have been madewith various materials, but up to the present time no solution could befound for the problem. It was proposed to use sticks of rubber of asimilar shape to the wooden sticks, but up to the present time rubbersticks have not proven satisfactory for use in general.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a stick composed ofaluminum and having a rubber binding and insulating member inassociation therewith, the principal objects being to provide a stickwhich is not subject to and which will overcome the difficulties hereinenumerated that are encountered with the sticks now in use.

To this end and with other objects in view as will be apparent from thedisclosure, the invention consists of the following described parts andcombination thereof, but it is to be understood that changes andmodifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout theseveral views:

Figure 1 is a perspective fragmentary View showing a plate electrodeprovided with an insulating member constructed according to theinvention.

Figure 2 is an exploded fragmentary view in perspective.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

The invention comprises an aluminum strip or stick 1 and a strip offlexible rubber 2.

The stick 1 is in the form of an elongated strip, substantially U-shapedin cross section and may be of any desired length and thickness, havingside walls 3, 4 respectively and edges 5, 6 and a channel 7. The edges5, 6 serve as tearing edges for stripping off metal from a plateelectrode 8 which metal accumulates upon the plate as a result ofdeposition thereon during the electrolytic deposition process. Thismetal is generally known as twenty-four hour metal. The rubber strip 2may be of any desired length or thickness and is adapted to be fittedsnugly within the channel 7 of the stick 1. The strip 2 has edges 9, 10respectively, which edges do not project beyond the edges 5, 6 of stick1, but lie in alignment therewith. The strip 2 when fitted in thechannel '7 defines a space 11 for enabling the assembled stick andrubber strip when forced upon an edge of the electrode plate 8, to beheld frictionally thereon. The rubber 2 acts to bind the plate firmlywithin the channel 7 and at the same time spaces and insulates the stick1 from the plate 8.

This construction provides a stick for use in electrolytic depositionprocesses, which is adapted, to be forced upon the edge of a plateelectrode to be frictionally held thereon. The stick will last 5 as longas the plate and does not have to be renewed as it is not subject tobecoming warped or worn away and is not affected by the electrolyte. Ifthe insulated metal stick or strip is properly applied to the plateedge, the strip will preserve the edge of the plate which is eaten awayvery fast when wood or rubber strips are used.

This invention is not limited to the specific use set forth, but may beemployed wherever an edge protecting member is desired for a plate orwhere an insulating member is to be secured to a conductor and in otheranalogous applications.

What I claim is:-

In an electrolytic apparatus, an electrode stick comprising a metallicmember of channel-shaped cross section lined throughout with rubber forbearing directly against marginal portions of the electrode bordering anedge of the latter, said rubber lining acting to elastically couple theelectrode with said member and to insulate the latter from theelectrode.

MICHAEL 'I'ETRAULT.

